SBE's HighWire Telecom Product Receives Sun ftSAFE Verification; HW200 Receives Approval for Deployment in Sun Microsystem's Netra ft 1800.

Business Editors/Technology Writers

SAN RAMON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 30, 2000

SBE, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBEI) today announced that its HighWire(TM) 200 SS7/AIN communication product has received ftSAFE(TM) verification approval from Sun Microsystems. The ftSAFE program was established by Sun to ensure the development of fault resilient I/O drivers within its Netra(TM) ft 1800 carrier grade platform. The Netra ft 1800 fault-tolerant server is designed for the telecom industry and will be used for mission-critical telecom applications such as wireline, wireless and converged IP systems.

As part of the rigorous testing, Sun ensured that SBE's HighWire software conforms to Sun's driver hardening and fault tolerance criteria. Additionally, the HighWire software was tested to support the hot swap capability that will allow the HighWire card to be installed or removed from an operating Netra ft 1800 without the need to take the system offline or reboot.

The Sun ftSAFE verified HW200 SS7/AIN communications product is a carrier-grade, high-performance PCI communications controller designed with an open API to significantly reduce the time to market. The HighWire product family contains on-board OSI Layer 1 and Layer 2 protocol support - and for higher level protocol support, SBE has formed strategic partnerships with leading SS7 stack vendors. The end result is simple integration for telecom equipment manufacturers requiring the unprecedented high channel density of the HW200 and the "five nines" fault-tolerant operation of the Netra ft 1800 platform.

"Receiving this recognition from Sun provides a strong validation of our technology," said William B. Heye, Jr., president and CEO of SBE. "The convergence of the public telephone network and the Internet is creating tremendous change in the way data and voice communications are distributed. The successful integration of the HighWire and the Netra ft 1800 platform results in the most complete telecom solution for next generation networks."

The Sun Microsystems' Netra ft 1800 is a highly reliable, fully fault-tolerant server based on Sun's proven technology and operating environment. It is designed specifically for mission-critical applications that cannot afford to be down even for short periods. The Netra ft 1800 server complies with the most demanding Network Equipment Building System (NEBS) Level 3 standards. It can serve as a Service Control Point (SCP) or Adjunct Processor (AP) component in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) or can provide high-speed, reliable Home Location Register (HLR) functionality in a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM).

The HighWire products address the next-generation network requirements with a high-bandwidth, performance driven multi-protocol telecom engine. With products offering 700 MIPS of processing power, eight software-selectable T1/E1 ports and a variety of traffic routing options, the HighWire family offers unprecedented power and flexibility.

About SBE, Inc.

Based in San Ramon, California, SBE designs and sells products to meet the needs of traditional and converged telecommunication markets. SBE products are designed for incorporation within carrier-grade computer systems and integrated into signaling, switching and routing networks. They include SS7/AIN controllers for switch manufacturers, WAN interface adapters for workstations and servers, and high-speed communications for wireless and data messaging applications.

SBE is recognized by major OEMs such as Compaq Computers, Motorola and Sun Microsystems in the telecommunications industry as a long term, reliable provider of high performance, mission-critical networking solutions for a wide variety of applications. Products are sold worldwide through direct sales, OEM and system integration partners. For further information, please visit the company's web site at www.sbei.com.

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements about new product features, market opportunity for new products, and the demand for services that may be offered by SBE's customers. Such statements are only predictions and the company's actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to risks related to rapidly changing product requirements, the introduction of new products, market acceptance of the Company's products, and reliance on strategic partners. These factors and others are more fully discussed in the documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically, the Company's most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, and Form 10-Q/A.

SBE and the SBE logo are registered trademarks of SBE, Inc. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.